Chapter 148: I Treat You Like a Brother

Since Wu Di had already said as much, what else could Lin Xia do? She glared at Cheng Feng beside her and said, "Yang Zixi and Andy have broken up..."

"Isn't that a good thing? What's there to hide?"

"Yeah, it's just a small matter, look at how mysterious you're acting."

"Don't interrupt, I haven't finished yet." Lin Xia looked at Wu Di, who seemed to have his hopes rekindled, and gave Cheng Feng a symbolic swat: "She's found a new wealthy bachelor. Recently, her clothes, shoes, and bags are all high-end items worth tens of thousands each; she's much more extravagant than when she was with Andy. I heard that the guy keeping her just gave her a card, and there's over two million in it."

Wu Di didn't say a word; he silently picked up his glass and downed it in one gulp.

Shi Xiaomeng, sitting opposite, took this in, thought for a moment, and asked, "Who did you hear that from?"

"You guys know what Yang Zixi is like; whenever she has a chance to show off, she wants the whole world to know." Cheng Feng curled his lip: "No need to guess, it must have been her own doing. Old Wu, it's not that I'm lecturing you, but there are plenty of fish in the sea; what's so great about Yang Zixi?"

Wu Di shook his head: "Hey, I'm fine, it's all in the past. Come, come, let's drink, let's drink."

Shi Xiaomeng hurriedly raised his glass: "Don't just sit there, let's all have one together."

"Cheers!"

Everyone raised their glasses and drank together.

After drinking and putting down his glass, Wu Di asked in confusion: "You guys tell me, is money really that important?"

"I think, for some people it's important, and for others, it's not." Tong Chui laughed as he put his arm around his wife beside him and gave her a kiss: "Just like your sister-in-law here, back then I had nothing, and didn't she still come to be with me?"

Everyone watched him show off his affection and burst into laughter.

Tong Chui's wife shyly swatted him: "Oh my, we're an old married couple, and there are so many people watching..."

Knowing he was just trying to liven up the atmosphere, Shi Xiaomeng patted Shen Bing beside him and raised his glass: "Come, Brother Chui, Sister-in-law. The two of us toast you both, wishing you harmony and beauty, haha..."

Tong Chui laughed: "Then I wish you both a happy ending soon, and that you enter the halls of marriage soon."

Cheng Feng looked at Shen Bing, who was slightly shy and whose face was flushed from the alcohol, and silently drank a glass of wine; there was no other reason, he was just thirsty. Besides, a beautiful woman deserves wine, even if she wasn't his beautiful woman.

Lin Xia was constantly watching Cheng Feng beside her. Seeing him drink alone, she picked up her glass to accompany him, then happily hugged Cheng Feng: "Actually, it doesn't matter if there's money or not. I don't care anyway. I just like our 'Crazy One'."

Shi Xiaomeng twitched the corner of his mouth and said nothing. Isn't it just that the person you like happens to have money?

"Don't let the mood drop, keep drinking, friends..."

The group drank boisterously for a long time. Shi Xiaomeng diligently maintained the atmosphere so it wouldn't go cold; Wu Di punished himself with drinks whenever he had nothing to do; Cheng Feng occasionally took two glances at Shen Bing to accompany his wine; Lin Xia was entirely focused on Cheng Feng, drinking whenever he drank. Fei Si, whose presence was weak, watched Lin Xia, who kept throwing herself at Cheng Feng with intimate gestures, and Wu Di, who was punishing himself with drinks beside her. Tong Chui and his wife watched the joys and sorrows of this group of young people who had once walked out from here...

By the time everyone was tipsy, they started reminiscing about the past while facing that wall in the shop.

After the noise had died down, Brother Chui interrupted everyone. After all, if they kept tossing about in his shop, wouldn't he and his wife be the ones suffering in the end? "Stop making a scene. I have a proposal, whether you listen or not is up to you. This school has already selected a new location; who knows what day it will move to that distant suburb. You guys, while it's not dark yet, hurry and go for a walk. Every day you go is one day less, and blow off some wind to sober up."

"Good idea, let's go, let him sober up." Cheng Feng pointed at Wu Di and called out. He just couldn't stand Wu Di acting like he was dying over a girl, ruining himself like that.

"Go, go, go."

"Everyone put on your coats, it's cold outside."

A group of people called out and went to the campus where they once had laughter and joy...

…………

In the blink of an eye, a week passed.

Wang Yan still went to work at the company every day to write code. Besides Yang Zixi, he had also battled with Wu Mei twice more. No choice, Wang Mouren was too good at his job, and Wu Mei, having experienced it, would think of him even when she had nothing to do.

During this time, the operations team at his company came up with a promotion plan, and the legal department had also gained a detailed understanding of Hu's Advertising and Hu Rongqiang. The two sides were coordinating and currently in contact with Hu's Advertising.

Their company's advertising business was certainly not as large as the annual business of that listed company, Dade, so the person connecting with them was A-Dong, whom Hu Rongqiang had picked to compete with Shi Xiaomeng, while Shi Xiaomeng still had to study that Dade order.

For Hu Rongqiang, whether he could win the Dade order or not didn't matter much; after all, his company's profits were already quite good. It was just that he had seen an opportunity when he went to Shi Xiaomeng's house that time and had some ideas. If he could win it, it would be enough to make his company grow, not to mention that his own life would reach a higher level. If he couldn't win it, it had nothing to do with him; after all, he hadn't counted on it anyway, it was just a matter of manipulating Shi Xiaomeng.

It was also because of this that Shi Xiaomeng had been having a tough time recently.

Hu Rongqiang was urging him all day long, and there was no news from Cheng Feng's side, so he could only call Cheng Feng from time to time to ask.

Seeing that there wasn't much time left until the end of the month, the 38-square-meter place he had been thinking about day and night was about to fly away, and that 50,000 deposit was about to be wasted. So, no one could understand the urgency in Shi Xiaomeng's heart, and he had no one to tell, not even Shen Bing.

Because Shen Bing always comforted him by saying things like "it's no big deal if we don't get it" or "we can just earn more if the money is gone." Although what she said wasn't wrong, it always gave people a feeling of being discouraged, and after hearing it so often, he didn't like to hear it anymore.

This day, Shi Xiaomeng went to the company early.

Yesterday, Hu Rongqiang received a call from Dade, saying they were daydreaming, and turned around and called him over to lecture him. He said if he couldn't handle it, he should leave. And over at the housing side, he had tried to probe for an extension of time, or to return the house and the deposit, but neither succeeded. In fact, he also knew it was impossible; after all, it was written clearly in black and white in the contract, but he always held some hope in his heart—what if?

The result, of course, was that there would be no "what if." He could only get himself drunk out of helplessness, then return home and hold Shen Bing while listening to her say some comforting words.

Going early today was also to perform well so he wouldn't really be fired, to fight for his life again, and see if he could scrape the money together in a short time.

He arrived too early, and no one else had come yet. When he passed Hu Rongqiang's office, he heard a burst of voices.

"Brother Hu, are you really going to fire Shi Xiaomeng?"

"Not really, I just want to force him to fight a desperate battle; perhaps there is still hope for the Dade order."

"Why? Hasn't Dade already put out the word, telling us not to daydream anymore?"

"Dade hasn't given the order to any company yet, maybe we still have a chance."

Shi Xiaomeng heard the commotion and knew this was Hu Rongqiang and that Nana talking about him. Driven by curiosity, he quietly walked to the door to listen to what they were saying.

Enduring his nausea, after listening to the two of them flirt for a while, Shi Xiaomeng's spirit lifted; he knew the key part was coming.

"Actually, last time I went to Xiaomeng's house for dinner..."

"Cheng Feng's feelings for that Shen Bing are definitely not ordinary."

Hearing this, Shi Xiaomeng's eyes widened, and he subconsciously held his breath. The amount of information was too large; he couldn't react at all for a moment.

Without waiting for him to think more, he heard the voices inside continue.

"Xiaomeng isn't stupid, you've seen it..."

"Xiaomeng is indeed not stupid, he just hasn't caught on yet..."

"I understand this kind of 'Crown Prince' Cheng Feng too well... he won't stop until he achieves his goal."

"Xiaomeng might not be willing to bow his head..."

"Do you know why I only gave him 30,000 last time... it's because he kept asking for last year's 80,000 bonus. He also met a new rich person, the little I gave him was just to keep him hooked, not let him..."

"If he doesn't ask Cheng Feng, does he have any other way out?"

Shi Xiaomeng heard all of this clearly. He finally knew the truth of the matter and understood that his current situation was entirely caused by Hu Rongqiang.

Resisting the urge to go in and fight Hu Rongqiang to the death, Shi Xiaomeng turned and left. He didn't want to think about money or anything else right now; that was a matter for later.

Now he had to go find Cheng Feng, talk to Cheng Feng clearly, and see if he really had any ulterior motives for his girl.

He went out and called Cheng Feng. He didn't say too much, just made an appointment to meet him at the gym where they often played ball together.

Shi Xiaomeng waved for a taxi; he couldn't wait any longer. He wanted to know right now if Cheng Feng was like what Hu Rongqiang said.

Thinking about those words Hu Rongqiang said, he arrived at the place without realizing it.

After settling the fare with the driver, Shi Xiaomeng, with red eyes, lit a cigarette outside the gym to calm his agitated emotions.

After smoking, Shi Xiaomeng took a few deep breaths and strode into the gym.

Cheng Feng lived a bit further away, so it would take a while for him to come over. Shi Xiaomeng took off his cotton-padded jacket and started shooting baskets by himself, as if venting.

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After a while, Cheng Feng walked over wearing sunglasses.

"What's the matter, calling me this early in the morning."

Shi Xiaomeng threw a ball, turned around, walked up to Cheng Feng, and took a deep breath: "Hu Rongqiang said if the advertising matter can't be handled, he'll fire me."

"That bastard Hu Rongqiang." Cheng Feng cursed: "Firing you is just right, come directly to my company."

"I don't want to owe you any more favors, really, I don't want to rely on you for everything." Shi Xiaomeng looked steadily at Cheng Feng in front of him: "Our Shen Bing doesn't want me to owe you favors either."

Looking at Shi Xiaomeng's determined gaze that seemed to pierce through his sunglasses, Cheng Feng's bad feeling grew stronger. In fact, he had a feeling when he received Shi Xiaomeng's call.

He took off his sunglasses and said, "What did she say?"

Shi Xiaomeng saw his action of taking off the sunglasses and already knew: "She said, 'Husband, I don't want a house, I don't want a car, what would I want those for? Where you are is home.' She doesn't have high demands."

Cheng Feng said unnaturally: "Hmm, sounds quite touching."

"Yes." Shi Xiaomeng nodded: "I can't compare to you guys. You have everything, and I have nothing. So now that I have such a woman, I already have the whole world."

Looking at Shi Xiaomeng, whose eyes were ambiguous, Cheng Feng said: "No, you called me over this early in the morning, surely not just to show off your affection to me and tell me how happy you two are together?"

"Hey, you've been showing off in front of the brothers for so many years. You have to let us little people show off our own happiness too."

"Fine, if you called me over this early just to make me jealous, then your goal has been achieved."

Shi Xiaomeng smiled, stared at Cheng Feng, and asked directly: "What are you jealous of me for?"

Cheng Feng was stunned, his eyes dodging: "I'm just joking, we're all brothers, what's there to be jealous of."

Shi Xiaomeng gave a disdainful smile: "I'm not worthy of her. We have to get married in the future, have children, but the house I have now is rented."

"That's right, a man should indeed let his woman live well."

"So I'm begging you, it's still about the advertising matter."

Shi Xiaomeng still wanted to strive for it. After all, so what if Cheng Feng liked Shen Bing? She was his woman now. At worst, he just wouldn't let them have contact. Besides, Shen Bing's impression of Cheng Feng was quite average to begin with. But if there was a result for this advertising matter today, the good days for him and Shen Bing would really be coming.

"Xiaomeng, I've been working on this, really. But you know, my relationship with Old Cheng..."

"I know your difficulties, but if it were just me, maybe I wouldn't have opened my mouth to you in the first place, really. But now I have my girl by my side, so now I must work hard. I can't let my girl be useless with me, suffer with me, I want her to be well."

Cheng Feng took a long breath. Seriously, he was also very troubled by this crappy advertising matter: "I understand what you're saying, give me some more time."

"How much is 'some time'?"

"I really can't say right now."

Shi Xiaomeng nodded, turned around to move about. He didn't want to hold it in anymore, he couldn't hold it in. Being able to restrain himself and talk for so long was already his greatest effort: "Cheng Feng, tell me the truth, did you never intend to handle this matter, and have been stalling me all along?"

Cheng Feng frowned: "Xiaomeng, what are you saying?"

Shi Xiaomeng gave a disdainful smile, stepped closer and said: "Are you hoping all along that Shen Bing and I break up?"

This sudden remark caught Cheng Feng off guard; he didn't know what to say for a moment.

"Speak."

"You help Shen Bing find a job, find a kindergarten, your intentions are not about the wine, are they?"

"You get me the advertising, you just want to use this matter to choke me, just want one day for me to kneel down and beg you, right?"

Cheng Feng had recovered by now and shouted: "Xiaomeng, listen to me."

"You speak."

Looking at Shi Xiaomeng, who was emotionally agitated and wanted to kill him, Cheng Feng hardened his heart. It had come to this point, so why bother with useless things: "That's right, I have fallen for Shen Bing, I fell for her at first sight. Ever since the day I helped you pick her up, I liked her. Xiaomeng, I know I'm a total bastard, I never thought I could do such a thing even if I died, I actually fell in love with my brother's girlfriend."

"Brother? Do you still have the word 'brother' in your heart?" Shi Xiaomeng stepped forward and pushed Cheng Feng.

Cheng Feng thought for a moment and said directly: "Xiaomeng, leave Shen Bing, okay? I'm begging you, I'm like I've been drugged, I can't control myself. Xiaomeng, leave her, name your conditions. I'll exchange everything I have with you, Xiaomeng..."

Shi Xiaomeng couldn't hold it anymore, went up and slapped Cheng Feng to the side, spat fiercely: "Cheng Feng, from today on, I don't know you."

He had nothing else to say. That damn shameless guy had even started naming conditions, wanting to exchange everything he had for his girl, what else was there to say?

Shi Xiaomeng, with red eyes, went out and lit a cigarette, taking a deep breath to calm down a bit. He took out his phone, flipped through his contacts, found the number marked "Benefactor Brother Wang," and called it.

Before, he had thought not to disturb Brother Wang if it wasn't necessary, but now it wouldn't do; he couldn't hold on anymore. Although he didn't know if Brother Wang would help him, this was his last choice.

"Hello? Brother Wang, it's me, Xiaomeng."

"That... can I borrow some money from you?"

"Hmm, yes, there's a little matter."

"Hey, okay, I'll be right over."

Shi Xiaomeng, who hung up the phone with a smile, suddenly squatted on the ground and burst into loud tears; he was too damn wronged... ===== CHAPTER 149 =====